By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government has thrown its weight behind a new satellite pay television, Silver Lake Television (SLTV), and has tipped it to give the existing players in the sector, StarTimes and DStv, a run for their money, especially because it has introduced the pay-per-view options.
The new kid in the bloc, Silver Lake Television (SLTV), which was unveiled in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr George Akume, is expected to satisfy the yearning of Nigerians by giving them value for their money.
“In recent times, Nigerians have been yearning for alternatives to Satellite Pay TV that can serve as an alternative to the existing ones.
“SLTV has responded very loud and clear and from the information made available to me, they are willing to give their fellow compatriots real value for their money in terms of service quality and affordability.
“It is gladdening that Metrodigital recognises the fact that the federal government has demonstrated an unwavering commitment through robust policies and legal frameworks to promote free competitive and responsible broadcasting service in Nigeria, devoid of any form of monopoly and unfair market practices in the broadcast industry in line with the determination of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, to turn the Nigerian economy around.
“Since his ascendancy as the president of Africa’s most populous nation, the President has made enormous policy changes in his quest for economic recovery, one of the results being the reason that we have gathered here today.
“Nigeria is an opportunity that is impossible to replicate or find elsewhere in any part of the world. The federal government wishes to assure the Management of SLTV of her full backing as they continue to do legitimate business in the broadcast industry of Nigeria,” the former Governor of Benue State said.
SLTV is an indigenous satellite television owned by Metrodigital Limited, which has Mr Ifeayi Okafor as its Managing Director, who said at the launching that, “The pay-TV industry in Nigeria has not witnessed a robust and accelerated growth since inception as witnessed in other places.”
He explained that the “reason is as a result of the policies and legal frameworks that shape the practice and attitude of the industry participants.”
“This allowed the dominant players to introduce monopolistic practices that over the years prevented innovation, and growth and led to poor quality of service delivery,” he added.
“It is, however, gratifying that in the last few years, the federal government of Nigeria took the bull by the horns and addressed some of these underlying problems,” the businessman said.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Business Post Contributor